Notre Dame issues statement of support for peaceful protesters in Ukraine

Published: December 15, 2013

The following statement was issued by Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, in response to events in Independence Square, Kiev, Ukraine.

“In concert with the International Federation of Catholic Universities, the University of Notre Dame stands with the students, faculty and administrators of the Ukrainian Catholic University who, in adherence to principles of peaceful protest and civil disobedience, and at risk to their personal safety, continue along with tens of thousands of their compatriots to protest their government’s suppression of free speech in violation of Ukraine’s constitution. The University of Notre Dame, whose own founders came to America to flourish with freedoms enshrined in law, condemns the Ukrainian government’s recent use of violence to stifle dissent. We join with Bishop Borys Gudziak, president of the Ukrainian Catholic University, in calling for an end to the harassment of students and professors engaged in peaceful protest.

“The Ukrainian Catholic University was at the forefront of the Orange Revolution that brought democratic reform to the country. We pray that its scholars and students, many of whom have conducted official visits to Notre Dame, will continue to enjoy the freedoms of inquiry and education that are guaranteed in every democracy.”